2012 NFL Draft: Oakland Raiders’ Biggest Needs

After a 25-20 victory over the Chicago Bears in late November last year, it was unlikely the Oakland Raiders were thinking about their needs in the 2012 NFL draft. The win put them at 7-4 on the season and if they simply played around .500 the rest of the way, they would make the playoffs. Unfortunately they lost four of five down the stretch, watching Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos take the AFC West divisional crown.

In the weeks following the collapse, the Raiders have begun a new era. They fired Hue Jackson after just one year and for the first time in decades the team has a general manager, Reggie McKenzie. Then, in just the past few days McKenzie hired defensive minded Dennis Allen as Jackson’s replacement. These moves suggest a change of direction for the Raiders and their front office, and it is likely that will reflected in their choices on draft day.

With many holes to fill, here are the Oakland Raiders' biggest needs heading into the draft:

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